[Determination of some oxidative stress, functional and immunological markers in the saliva of patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT).]

OBJECTIVE: High doses of chemotherapy used prior to bone marrow transplantation (BMT) promote severe changes in the stomatognathic system. The objective of the present work consisted in evaluating some functional, immunological and oxidative stress markers in saliva of these patients.

METHODS: A longitudinal observational study was carried out on 22 patients admitted to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit of the Oncohematology Service of the Sanatorio Allende between March 2019 and February 2020. Basal saliva collection was carried out in the initial stage (I ) prior to isolation and middle stage (M) 14 days after conditioning therapy and transplantation. The concentration of uric acid (UA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), salivary alpha amylase, secretory immunoglobulin A (Ig As), lactoferrin, ceruloplasmin and urea were analyzed.

RESULTS: In (M) the levels of SOD and MAD increased significantly compared to (I) (p <0.01). The concentration of salivary alpha amylase, Ig As, lactoferrin and uric acid was significantly lower in (M) compared to (I ) p <0.0001, p <0.01, p <0.0001, p <0.02 respectively. Ceruloplasmin and Urea did not show variations during treatment.

CONSLUSION: In the present study, a decrease in the defensive capacity of saliva was observed as a consequence of a reduction in the concentration of Ig As and lactoferrin. The increase in SOD in (M) could be interpreted as a defense mechanism of saliva against oxidative stress produced by chemotherapy. The decrease in uric acid in stage (M) could allow the worsening of mucositis. The synthesis and release of amylase was affected by treatment with cytostatic drugs.